Asbestos Awareness

Objectives What is asbestos Where can it be found What are the health problems associated with exposure to asbestos How can exposure occur OSHA Requirements Fermilab Policy

Asbestos Group of Naturally Occurring Minerals Fibrous Structure Different Types Most Common (95%) Chrysotile (White) Amosite (Brown)

Good Things About Asbestos Good insulator (heat and electricity) High tensile strength Resistant to corrosives Doesn’t burn Inexpensive Fibrous – can be used in a variety of ways

Uses – Prior to 1980 Ceiling tiles Drywall taping compound Adhesives and mastics Thermal system insulation Roofing felts Gaskets Vibration dampers Cement sheet (transite) Floor tile Valve packing and insulation Fire Resistant drywall Sprayed-on fireproofing

Health Concerns Inhaled or swallowed Asbestosis – scarring of lung – 20 year latency period Lung Cancer – 20 to 30 year latency period Mesothelioma – cancer of the lining of lung – 30 year latency period – rare Digestive Tract Cancer

How Much Is Too Much? Studies done on people exposed to asbestos in the course of their work show increased risk Much higher concentrations of asbestos than the general public Cannot state that there is a threshold below which risk of cancer is not increased OSHA – 8 hour time-weighted-average of 0.1f/cc Smoking increases risk

So What? If you work around asbestos containing building materials which are damaged or deteriorated there is a potential you may be exposed to asbestos fibers (fibers may not be visible and remain in air for a long time) Asbestos is a hazard ONLY if it can release fibers (friable) Friable – pipe insulation, fireproofing, etc. Non-friable - floor tile, transite (unless machined or broken)

Damage or Deterioration Water leaks, cutting or bumping, strong air currents, age Evidence Debris Ripped or cracked Delamination Report to ES&H Group immediately

Don’ts Don’t use pipes lined with asbestos as a platform to work from Don’t cut through pipe insulation Don’t bump into sprayed on materials Don’t open up enclosures Don’t disturb non-friable material Don’t clean-up or repair material

OSHA Regulations 1910.1001 and 1926.1101 Presumed Asbestos Containing Material (PACM) Determine presence, location, and quantity Maintain records Warning signs and labels Contractor Notification Training

Presumed Asbestos Containing Material Suspect thermal system insulation, sprayed-on and troweled-on surfacing materials in a building constructed no later than 1980. Asphalt and vinyl flooring installed no later than 1980 must be treated as asbestos containing.

Declassification of PACM Complete an inspection per EPA requirements Accredited inspector or certified industrial hygienist (IH). The State of Illinois requires a license. Accredited laboratory Floor tile and mastic determination of IH using recognized analytical techniques

Inventory Building and facility owners shall determine the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM

Fermilab Program (FESHM 5052.4) Inventory Inventory – ES&H Share Volume – IH Folder – Asbestos Folder – Inventory Buildings built on or before 1980 Thermal System Insulation, Surfacing Materials, Floor Tile Materials grouped into “homogeneous areas” Positive result – one sample in the homogeneous group (1% or more)

Examples – Friable Material Locations Surfacing Material Lab A (enclosed) Cross Gallery Linac Gallery Transfer Gallery Thermal System Insulation Lab A PS-4 IB2 Wilson Hall Ground Floor and Below CUB and tunnel Transfer Gallery Cross Gallery Linac Site 68

Warning Labels Labels must be affixed so that employees will be notified of what materials contain ACM and/or PACM Materials not friable (in any foreseeable use, handling, storage, disposal, processing, or transportation) need not be labeled

Warning Signs Warning signs shall be at the entrance to mechanical rooms/areas in which, if followed, will ensure that ACM and/or PACM will not be disturbed

Training Removal Workers Operations and Maintenance Workers Annual Awareness training for employees “who perform housekeeping operations in an area which contains ACM or PACM

Contractor Notification Shall notify of the presence, location and quantity of ACM or PACM at the work site. Notification shall be in writing or shall consist or personal communication between the owner and contractor

Procedures In building built before, assume all pipe insulation, surfacing material, and floor tile DO contain asbestos whether or not labeled. Check inventory database Contact ES&H Group personnel May request that the material be sampled Contact ES&H Group for help if material must be removed. This can ONLY be done by specially trained individuals.

Review Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber It is contained in many materials in buildings built before 1980 It is associated with asbestosis and lung cancer Exposure can occur if friable building material has been damaged Exposure can occur if non-friable material sanded, sawed, etc. Damage can occur by bumping or cutting, water damage, or deterioration with age

Review Inventory Label Only trained inspectors may take samples ES&H Group personnel Only trained workers may disturb this material

Asbestos Concern Contact Numbers Accelerator Division Richard Rebstock (3499) ESH Section Tom Gibbs (8001) Workforce Development and Resources Section Mike Bonkalski (8448) Particle Physics Division Robert Bushek (2399) FES Section Mike Bonkalski (8448) Technical Division Richard Ruthe (5424) Business Services Section Greg Mitchell (8002) Computing Division Amy Pavnica (8493) Note: Tom Gibbs is the Point-of-Contact for all Asbestos removal projects at Fermilab. Phone (8001) Cell (630-432-4420)